Alien8
Senior Moment
- Location
- (A little bit north of) Cambridge
From today's Cambridge News:
Careless cyclist fined in rare prosecution
A student who left a motorcyclist with a broken collar bone has been found guilty of careless cycling.The unusual charge was brought against the Clare College student after he caused a crash on Queen’s Road while cycling wearing headphones.
Cambridge Magistrates’ Court heard how Jin-Hyung Lee was travelling in the same direction as the motorcyclist, who was performing an overtaking manoeuvre when Lee suddenly turned right across the road.
His thoughtless move put him directly in the way of the overtaking vehicle which collided with him.
Details of the charge said: “Without warning and without looking the cyclist then turned right into the path of the motorcyclist, colliding and causing them to lose control and be unseated from his machine. The witness suffered a broken collar bone which was broken in two places.”
Magistrates were told it was a bright clear day when the accident happened on March 13 and that the road was not unusually busy.
The 19-year-old undergraduate lives in Memorial Court, off Queen’s Road, close to where the accident happened. He was fined £200, ordered to pay £300 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Pc Stuart Appleton, the prosecuting officer, said: “This is a rare charge. I have been in the police force for eight years and never come across it before.
“The cyclist was wearing iPod speakers which we think had a big part to play in the accident as he would not have been able to hear the traffic.
“Given the seriousness of the accident and how badly the victim was hurt, we felt it necessary to prosecute in this case.
“If cyclists are going to wear headphones we advise them to keep the volume at a sensible level and take extra care on the roads.”
Jim Chisholm, liaison officer for Cambridge Cycling Campaign, said cyclists have a responsibility to ride in a safe and considerate manner.
He said: “At this time of year there are lots of people coming to Cambridge who have learnt to ride a bicycle but have never ridden on busy roads.
“People who cycle should ensure they have the skills to ride on the road and students are old enough for that to be their own responsibility.”
A Cambridge University spokesman said: “The college gives a health and safety talk to students at the beginning of term and issues free bike lights and crash helmets if needed.”
Clare College did not wish to comment on the incident.
Careless cyclist fined in rare prosecution
A student who left a motorcyclist with a broken collar bone has been found guilty of careless cycling.The unusual charge was brought against the Clare College student after he caused a crash on Queen’s Road while cycling wearing headphones.
Cambridge Magistrates’ Court heard how Jin-Hyung Lee was travelling in the same direction as the motorcyclist, who was performing an overtaking manoeuvre when Lee suddenly turned right across the road.
His thoughtless move put him directly in the way of the overtaking vehicle which collided with him.
Details of the charge said: “Without warning and without looking the cyclist then turned right into the path of the motorcyclist, colliding and causing them to lose control and be unseated from his machine. The witness suffered a broken collar bone which was broken in two places.”
Magistrates were told it was a bright clear day when the accident happened on March 13 and that the road was not unusually busy.
The 19-year-old undergraduate lives in Memorial Court, off Queen’s Road, close to where the accident happened. He was fined £200, ordered to pay £300 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Pc Stuart Appleton, the prosecuting officer, said: “This is a rare charge. I have been in the police force for eight years and never come across it before.
“The cyclist was wearing iPod speakers which we think had a big part to play in the accident as he would not have been able to hear the traffic.
“Given the seriousness of the accident and how badly the victim was hurt, we felt it necessary to prosecute in this case.
“If cyclists are going to wear headphones we advise them to keep the volume at a sensible level and take extra care on the roads.”
Jim Chisholm, liaison officer for Cambridge Cycling Campaign, said cyclists have a responsibility to ride in a safe and considerate manner.
He said: “At this time of year there are lots of people coming to Cambridge who have learnt to ride a bicycle but have never ridden on busy roads.
“People who cycle should ensure they have the skills to ride on the road and students are old enough for that to be their own responsibility.”
A Cambridge University spokesman said: “The college gives a health and safety talk to students at the beginning of term and issues free bike lights and crash helmets if needed.”
Clare College did not wish to comment on the incident.
